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INTERVIEW: Tell us a story about James Deen P1

James Deen is one of the most recognisable porn stars in the world right now. As his fame continues to escalate, with the helpful backing of his loyal fanbase (Deenagers), I spent over a month last year interviewing a handful of honest, funny and intelligent women - of all ages and backgrounds - as to why they really love James and how much of an impact he has had on their lives.

Through the course of this interviewing series, I'll be picking a selection of the women I had the opportunity to speak with and focus on their stories. Why should we hear second hand reasons from media outlets as to why James has such a following, when we can speak to the actual fans and get their true to life version?

A big shout-out to all the ladies that helped me out with these interviews, even if they were used or not, and to the DeenMe blog, who published my call for interviewees way back in August.

There will be further insights into the lives of more passionate Deenagers in the next coming weeks, but first check out what Gaby had to say on the topic of Hollywood sex fantasies and how she was selected for James' open casting call...

Watching Manhandled 4 seems to have been a major
turning point for you sexually. Are there women out there that you've
encountered - whether online or in person - that have been awakened to
different types of sexual experimentation through watching James' films?

I definitely have! Particularly on the Deen Me blog,
there was a tag created called ‘Reasons Why We Love James Deen’ and a lot of
girls (even married women) were saying how it opened up their view of sexuality
and made them try things and accept certain aspects of sex that they hadn't
even known about before.

I also began sharing videos I enjoyed with two
friends of mine and one became a huge fan. We don't discuss her sex life simply
because it hasn't come up, but I'm sure she would tell you he has impacted it
in a positive way. It made us realise that it's definitely possible and OK to
have more rough sex and still manage to be loving and caring, as he shows in
every single one of his films of that nature.

There is definitely a gender stereotype that comes with that, too. Because it is a dominant thing, it will usually be associated with men,
and when you put 'rough' into any kind of sentence, people will assume something
that is physically violent, not loving and caring and certainly not to do with
women who are expected to lay there and do nothing. That's not cool with me.

Definitely! When you pick up magazines like Cosmopolitan you always have
those tips to make your guy go crazy and have amazing sex, but reading the
actual article, over half of it is dedicated to his pleasure - whether it's you
doing something to turn him on, or a new position that'll feel better to him.

I think it's nice that they're making an effort to emphasise the girl
taking action, but a girl can be dominant too! I consider myself to be submissive,
however that doesn't mean that I can't take initiative and say what I want from
a sexual relationship. I have often been the one to make the first move as they
say, and the one who asked my boyfriend to be rougher and do certain things.
It's not always the guy who wants to try the so called ‘kinky’ things.

Screengrab from Cosmopolitan website

With
readerships as big as all those magazines it can definitely be damaging. It's
all down to the stereotypes we have of people who are of different genders and
how we're meant to act in our own intimate relationships.

Through James, there
are women who are slowly but surely coming to that realisation that sex isn't
the same each time round, like most relationships. There needs to be a lot
more openness about sex in our society in general. For example, one of my
friend's flatmates told a friend that you couldn't get pregnant if you were
having sex standing up. She's my age, 20 years old. Stuff like that just amazes
me.

There's a generalisation of sexuality because they feel the need to make
sure every girl can relate somehow, and by doing that they end up giving girls
a misconception about sexual relationships. I have had friends who have acted
in a manner that any educated person would say is immature and ridiculous because
they were not properly taught about sex.

After the experience of watching Manhandled 4, has it had an effect on
the way that you view yourself as a sexual partner?

It may sound strange to some, but showing your boyfriend or significant
other what you want when it comes to sex is a really empowering feeling. After
watching it, I really wanted to go and say to the boy I was with, "Hey I
wanna try this." So I did.

For whatever reason, I had always felt like sex was cookie-cutter and
there were things a girl always had to do in order to please her
boyfriend/husband, and that essentially it was all about him. I never really
thought about the fact that I could ask if we could try something else, voice
my opinion, or basically have a say when it came to sex. I don't know why that
is, but yeah, after watching his films and reading his blogs it began to dawn
on me that I was more than just a sexual object. He's constantly writing about
how a girl’s body is hers and she can do whatever she wants with it so long as
it makes her happy. That’s how I began to apply it to my sex life.

Scene from Manhandled 4

By you saying that you can now apply James' ethos to your own sexual
life, it also debunks the myth that porn isn’t a good teacher of real life sex.
Though I don't think porn is the right tool for educating those who haven't had
any sexual experience (it’s acting), Hollywood's version of intimacy is far more removed
than the adult industry a lot of the time.

It took me a while to realise it, but I did change a lot after
discovering James' films. Something inside me just clicked and I didn't even
think twice when talking about things I saw in his scenes.

You know, I have never agreed with that whole ‘porn sex isn't like real
life sex’ – it is. The only blatant differences are that the majority of girls
have perfectly toned bodies, fake boobs, tons of makeup, and a lot of actors
have larger than average penises. Does that mean you will never have sex with a
girl who is really into fitness? No. Does that mean you'll never have sex with
a guy with a big penis? No. Everyone's lives and situations are different so
there's a broad spectrum within porn, just like in real life.

Sure, there's websites that cater to different things, like Kink, but if
people took the time to do some research they would know there are BDSN
communities through which you can partake in similar activities, in a safe and
controlled environment.

You can of course learn a lot from porn if you know how to look for the
right kind. I know I did! Hollywood and its sex scenes and romantic relationships
are cute and fun to watch, but they have never affected me on the level where I
have changed the way I view specific things. It's simply too fake to me.

Unrealistic expectations of romance and sex in The Notebook

Good point. I feel like the differences I get from it are exactly what
you've described, but also the fact you can have a lot
of exaggerated reactions. The performers are acting and just happen
to be using their bodies in order to do that. Maybe people don't like to
compare their sex lives to the ones of adult films? But then you get people who
can notice that difference. Bret Easton Ellis said that the young people he's
had sex with now fuck like porn stars because of the access to all kinds of
videos they have.

I think that's it - people don't like to compare their sexual lives to
porn. It’s just like people obsessing over comparing their relationships to
Hollywood films. If you ask me, it’s completely illogical. Compare one aspect
to film but not the other? Why are people so afraid of that? Why do they let it
affect them so deeply? I think this has to do with the societal and religious
concept of sex being sacred, virginity, and having sex that is socially
accepted (what some call vanilla sex.) I say those are the reasons for which
porn is looked down on.

Hollywood, like adult entertainment, is a world built up on fantasy. You
have people, look wise, you wouldn't think you'd see down the street, people
that could be models, and the adult industry seems to follow that mantra too.
James doesn't fit into that generalised trope.

There are a lot of women that build up fantasies of their own, imagining
themselves with said person (i.e Ryan Gosling). Because of the way that
James physically looks, is he more accessible to other women, including you?
Would you say that when watching adult films it matters to have that
believability rather than the fantasy that surrounds the industry?

He's definitely an attractive guy; he is really good looking and a
sweetheart, so in that aspect he may fit in in Hollywood. So I don't think it's
just because of his 'boy I know from maths class' looks.

The thing is, when you look at him, watch him perform, or listen to his
interviews, he doesn't come off as unattainable. Ryan Gosling is the perfect
example of the stereotypical perfect boyfriend in The Notebook. I know a lot of
girls want that - the muscular, sensitive, supposedly passionate lover - but
will they ever get their perfect Ryan Gosling? Probably not. By setting their
standards so high they miss out on a lot of great guys who have tons to offer.
If I had James and Ryan side by side, I would definitely be more excited to
meet and talk to James, get to know him and discuss even the lamest of things.
There's nothing attractive to me about a cookie-cutter fairytale.

Sometimes people miss out on the fact that not all women are into the
beef cake, six-pack model type guys. To me and my own likes, that's boring,
especially when you have all sorts of celebrities in the public eye - the
majority who look very similar - from musicians to actors to reality stars, who
come across as people that are too perfect. They've had
training in how to deal with the media, they won't slip up in any conversations
that they have because it may affect their career. In the age that we're living
in when people can follow and keep track of their favourite celeb they can sink
further down the hole of wanting that cookie-cutter fairytale, as you put it.

Oh yes, celebrities have 1001 people telling them what to eat, wear,
say, how to talk, when to stay quiet, if they should do an interview or not.
It's so controlled. Most of the time their social media accounts are not
controlled by them but rather an assistant who makes sure the right things are
said at the right time.

One of the many selfies of James with his cats on Twitter

Do you think James would have been as popular as he is now without
social media?

I think so. I'm pretty sure James had a significantly strong fan base
since before he blew up on Twitter. Although, I must say that I do think
Twitter, Tumblr, and his blog gave him an extra rush of popularity since it was
easier to spread his name and face around.

It's hard to find a famous, genuine person on social networking. They're
keeping an image up, and you're right, there are so many people in the public
eye that have their PR team dealing with their Twitter accounts. When you see
James just tweeting about random shit, it makes him that much relatable.

Yeah, you have a sense of knowing him, you almost want to say "Hey,
look at what my friend posted, he's so funny!" because you know it's
genuine and it's not meant to impress anyone. When celebrities post funny things
there's a huge deal made of it because it's not usual, so it's a breath of
fresh air to have someone you look up to be themselves 100% of the time.

When Twilight was a 'thing', a frequent point that was made about it was
the fact Bella was a blank slate. The reader was able to imagine themselves in
her position because she had no personality and you could pretty much pretend
you were her.

The romanticism of the way James performs seems to be another aspect of
him that is popular among his viewership. Could you imagine yourself, like fans
of Twilight did with Bella, that you are the women in the
scenes from the way that he performs intimately?

Wow, I hadn’t thought about it like that, but it does make a lot of
sense.

I think in some ways I can. Most of the time, though, I enjoy watching him
interact with the girl more, I love seeing both their reactions. I know it's
acting, but he is simply amazing at making you feel like it's 100% real. It’s
more about seeing him connect with the girl for me, and I feel that a lot of
other girls will say that.

James eating on his Wood Rocket series, James Deen Loves Food

That's interesting that you prefer seeing the connection with another
girl than imagining yourself in their shoes. Why is that? Do you think James,
with his hoard of adoring Deenagers, is seen as more as someone you'd like to
have sex with because of his attention to other women in his scenes? He could
even be seen as a friend or someone you confide in, just a cool dude you'd like
to hang out with - particularly if you say that there would be quite a few
women who prefer watching him do his thing with another woman. I'd still
imagine there are a lot of people who are replying to his casting call, though.

I think the reason I enjoy watching him and his leading lady perform and
interact is because I enjoy seeing that connection.

A lot of TV shows nowadays have sex scenes where the couple seems so
disconnected, yet people enjoy that. So when I watch a true intimate scene, aka
porn, I like to see how both respond and their expressions and what their body
does. It gets you excited for the next time you'll get to experience that
awesome feeling. You learn about connection and human interaction. It's not
just a guy putting his penis inside a girl's vagina. It's him whispering in her
ear, her grabbing his hair, him staring into her eyes as it's all happening.
It's cool.

Actually, I applied to the casting call and got selected! I live about
two hours away from Los Angeles and we're trying to work out the process that
goes on before shooting, especially now that my school semester begins next week;
not to mention the fact that I have to be fit into his very busy schedule!

That's awesome news, congratulations!

How did that come about? Did you apply for the casting call and they
contacted you with ideas, or do you get a say in what kinds of scenes you’d
like to do? Are these videos more so for personal usage rather than being
published on the internet?

I had actually sent in an email a while ago explaining my educational goals,
that I was a fan of James; that I would love to try out being in the industry
even just for fun. I ended up getting an email about a month or so later. They
asked me to send it photos so I sent two head shots, a full body (they didn't
require nudes so that was fantastic) and they loved me!

From then on it's been planning to schedule a day to shoot, finding a
way for me to get tested via a specific company (unfortunately, they don't have
an office near me so we need to figure that out.) I'm not so sure about the
creative process but I know for a fact they ask about your limits, what you're
into, what you don't want to do.

The scenes are filmed for his website and hopefully I get a copy of the
scenes to keep for myself! It'll be pretty cool, I'm really excited to go up to
LA and get to meet and work with James.

If there is anything you definitely want to do with James, whether it is
a re-enactment of a film he’s shot, or something completely different from
anything you've sexually experienced, what would it be? Have you already got a
plan in mind?

Oh gosh, I don't! I know want it to be as natural as possible, definitely
realistic, I want girls to watch it and relate to it, as if it were a couple
having really fantastic sex. That's my goal. I want to have fun and just
have a good time shooting and make the best of it.

Since it is his website, I'm assuming I'll be discussing with James the
nature of the scene, so maybe then I'll decide what I want to try out. I love
kissing! I think it's awesome, so I definitely want it to be a scene that
involves that. Whatever we end up doing, I'm positive a great scene will be the
end result.

8 comments

As I expected, the questions and the answers were great and the girl really has a way with words. I do think that for quite a few women out there though, they do probably watch some of Deen's scenes and imagine themselves as the leading lady (just as some do with Hollywood's romantic films, i.e. The Notebook) but I'm glad that she pointed out other reasons for watching it. She's definitely a more positive, regular type of Deenager unlike what they portray in the media which is such a shame.

Anyway, I really hope you manage to do some follow-up interviews or something, I'm really eager to hear how her experience went after working with him. Keep the interviews coming!

For sure - there is always the escapism element of anything we watch, and that can also create the crazy kind of fan for just about anything (take Bieber's for example).

Yeah, definitely agree. It's the complete opposite of how his fans have been portrayed in mainstream media. I especially didn't like the fact that they kept bringing up the age of his fans, which is irrelevant considering that they are aged from teenagers to older women. He has a broad spectrum of people that dig him, and they're only focusing on the younger age group who aren't 18 and of legal age to watch his films. Gaby, and all the women I spoke to, were really refreshing and very clued up on lots of topics (Measure B, the industry itself, etc.)

Cheers for the comment, man. And hopefully will be able to do a follow-up once Gaby has shot her scene with James and hear the outcome of what happened!

I think a lot of people, particularly those unaware of how popular he is on social media (Tumblr and Twitter specifically), clocked him after The Canyons came out, which definitely elevated his profile out of the demographic that he is most known in.

Over the last year or so there has been a lot more coverage about him, but unfortunately most of it has focused on his fan base in a negative way, pinpointing him as the main reason why teenagers under 18 are watching more porn, particularly girls. It's really why I wanted to speak to his fans directly and see what they have to say about him and the outcome was the complete opposite of what has been reported which was awesome!